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BRISTOL, Tenn. -- The decision, at first, seems crazy. Yet it makes sense when you think about it.

Think of it this way: Marc Davis, an 18 year old, was looking for work but couldn't find any. Blame the economy.

So he created his own business to keep working.

Rather, to keep racing in NASCAR.

Add to this that Davis is the only African-American attempting to race in either today's NASCAR Nationwide race or Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Davis has been a part of Joe Gibbs Racing's development program and ran four Nationwide races -- he had a best finish of 23rd -- one truck race last year. Aware that Gibbs couldn't find sponsorship money for him to race this year, Davis had to decide what to do for this season.

With the top teams not having development rides open, Davis could either try to get with a lesser team or start his own.

He decided to start his own with his father's help, allowing them to have control over the program.

"It was a long hard decision," Davis said as his rented crew prepared his car. "It's definitely easier to settle for less. I don't want to go riding around. I've never done that in my life, and I don't want to do that. Whatever the best situation I can put myself in, I will take it whether it's hard work or not."

He's been angling for this since he was 13 years old. Then he was in Roush Fenway Racing's development program and examined budget figures for a team to prepare to be an owner someday. It just came sooner than expected.

Harry Davis says his son, in a way, is no different than other drivers who worked to make a career in NASCAR.

"I call him the 18-year-old old-school kid," Harry says. "A lot of NASCAR owners and drivers started out with their own one-car teams. We're doing it the same way."

Like any teenager trying to make it in the "real world," Davis knows this is not easy. Making today's Nationwide race could be challenging. His speed in the first practice session Friday wouldn't have been fast enough to get him in the field if it was qualifying. His best lap in the second and final practice session would get him in the field.

Now it's a matter of making that fast lap in qualifying today.

What Davis is trying to do is not elaborate. He has two cars, one from Joe Gibbs Racing, another from Michael Waltrip Racing. Joe Gibbs Racing is supplying him motors for the races he attempts. A crew from an ARCA team is helping him this weekend.

Although this is the fourth race of the Nationwide season, Davis is attempting to make his first start. He skipped the first three races. He can afford to do only a limited number of races.

After today, he is not scheduled to run the Nationwide car again until Richmond in early May. He also plans to run Darlington, Charlotte and Dover before making his Cup debut at Infineon Raceway in June.

"I expect challenges," Davis says.

"I'm going to cross my fingers on this one, but there hasn't been as many hard challenges as I thought there would be."

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com